Sabah’s deputy chief minister to propose an interim solution to ease Sepanggar Port congestion, a top priority for the state’s industrial ecosystem.
KOTA KINABALU: An interim plan to tackle congestion at Sepanggar Port will soon be proposed to the Sabah state cabinet.
Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick said immediate measures are necessary as long-term expansion projects will take time to complete.
Ewon, who is also the state Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister, designated the port congestion as his ministry’s top priority.
He stated that congestion directly impacts supply chains, logistics costs and the competitiveness of Sabah’s industries and entrepreneurs.
The minister recently joined a prime mover on a trip from a Kota Kinabalu Industrial Area depot to the port to observe the situation firsthand.
This inspection confirmed the validity of industry complaints, identifying several contributing factors including operational efficiency issues.
Ewon said discussions with stakeholders will be held before the cabinet paper is tabled.
He assured the state government’s commitment to ensuring smooth port operations to support Sabah’s sustainable economic growth.
Sepanggar Port, located about 20 kilometres northeast of Kota Kinabalu, is undergoing a capacity expansion.
The project aims to increase capacity from 500,000 to 1.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year but has faced delays.
